Ponds

A pond is a small area of still, fresh water. It is different from a river or a stream because it does not have moving water and it differs from a lake because it has a small area and is no more than around 1.8m deep.

Endangered Pond Animals

As with any habitat, if ponds are in danger of disappearing then it follows that the wildlife in them is also endangered. Some of Britain’s pond animals are already officially on the list of rare animals, fully protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The great-crested newt and natterjack toad are the two officially endangered species of amphibian, but even the common frog is not nearly so common as it used to be. The many species of dragonflies are also becoming increasingly rare – the Norfolk Aeshna is on the list of Britain’s endangered species of insects.

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:
The Norfolk Aeshna, also known as the Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna Isosceles), is rare and endangered.
There are 63 species of dragonly listed in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Of these, 2 are endangered, 6 are vulnerable, and 6 are near threatened.
The great crested newt, also known as the northern crested newt is listed as least concern by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.
The natterjack toad and the common frog are also classifed by the IUCN as least concern.